Professor researching if snake venom can cure cancer

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — When Stephen Mackessy opened the door to one of his favorite rooms on the University of Northern Colorado campus, it erupted with a noise like a mix of cicadas buzzing, rain hitting a metal roof and raucous applause after a concert.

It's enough to make many people nervous, even Mackessy's graduate students, especially when they see what made the noise.

Mackessy sees it differently.

"They're just saying hi," he said, grinning widely and gesturing to a room lined with venomous snakes.

The cages had different colored tags based on their risk. Red means the highest dange...